This here blog never thought it would be posting another new Acid Folk compilation. After all, aren’t the four volumes already posted here exhaustive enough? But with May just getting start, who can resist? So, here it is: The Acid Folk Vol. 5. Perfect music for dancing ’round the May Pole, prancing around the village with the ‘Obby ‘Oss and generally going about your business on a May morning in May.

Actually, the most immediate inspiration for this compilation was Rob Young’s absolutely phenomenal book Electric Eden. Young’s 600-page survey of the “folk” influence on British music throughout the 20th century stood as a reminder of favourite tracks and an introduction to all sorts of weird and wonderful obscurities. If you have any interest at all in this stuff, you really need to get a copy of this book.

As with all of the mix CDs posted on this hear blog, The Acid Folk Vol. 5 is intended as a sampler. Most of the artists featured here have CD and/or vinyl re-issues in print. And if you’re looking for more compilations, Gather in the Mushrooms and the four-CD box set Anthems in Eden are both heartily recommended.

2. Bert Jansch & John Renbourn – “The Time Has Come”
A lovely Anne Briggs song from the Pentangle guitarists. Did Briggs maybe write this about Jansch? Anyway, more from all concerned later in the mix.

7. Roy Harper – “Male Chauvinist Pig Blues”
This Who-style romper barely even qualifies as folk-anything but what a tune! Why exactly does Harper’s magnum opus Stormcock (from which this song is not taken) only warrant literally about three sentences in Electric Eden?

8. C.O.B. – “Spirit of Love”
Led by Clive Palmer. He was in the original line-up of The Incredible String band but he didn’t do much, apparently. More of them later.

9. Shirley Collins & The Albion Country Band – “Poor Murdered Woman”
Shirley Collins MBE, again. There’s no actual sex or violence in this song but y’know… it’s implied.

10. The Woods Band – “January Snows”
Gay and Terry Woods, who we heard earlier on Steeleye Span’s “Blackleg Miner”. This is a really great tune.

11. John Martyn – “Bless the Weather”
More typical of the earlier, acoustic Martyn than the echoplexed aqua-funk of his classic era. It’s all good, though.

A very early Christmas present to you all – or a slightly early Hanukkah present, if you prefer. In any case, this is great music to wrap gifts by.

As with the Rap in the 90s compilations, this should go without saying but – in case it’s not abundantly clear – these compilations are intended as samplers, designed to generate interest in and real-world sales for the artists featured. So, if you hear any stuff you particularly like on these comps (and you will), please do the right thing – support the artists by purchasing their work, preferably on vinyl.

About five years ago, there was a significant revival of interest in classic UK folk-rock from the late 60s/early 70s. Consequently, a lot of albums by artists featured on these compilations got re-issued in swanky vinyl and CD editions. Again, the point is that there’s no excuse – so start downloading, have a listen and then head down to your local record emporium and get shopping.

Clicking that link will also lead you in the direction of some rather stupendous downloadable acid folk compilations, which will significantly enhance your holiday cheer. Inexplicably, neither of the two classic songs provided below actually feature on any of these compilations.

Last year witnessed the launch of a new Not Me adventure: The Acid Folk Remix Project. The project came in response to a series of CDR compilations that were circulated around Christmas-time for the preceding few years. These comps collected legendary British folk and folk-rock recordings from the late ’60s and early ’70s.

You should still be able to download the compilations via the following links:

The Acid Folk Remix Project invites contemporary musical artists from across the world to remix, re-record or otherwise reinterpret recordings by the artists featured on these compilations. The initial results were collected as Not Me Presents: The Acid Folk Remix ProjectVolume One.

As you might expect, the collection featured lots of contributions from connect_icut. It also included valuable input from Chris Mastheim (Nick from No Kids), Esperik Glare, Skullfucker (Dan from Solars), The Luminaries and Gunshae.

The styles covered ranged from ambient abstraction to lo-fi outsider rock, with stand-outs being Gunshae’s Watersons remix (“Christmas is Now Drawing Near”) and Skullfucker’s hair-raising cover of a Kevin Coyne song (“Evil Island Home”). You can listen to and download all of the tracks, in two parts, here and here.

The project was pretty well received, so its happening again this year and you – yes you – are invited to GET INVOLVED! Just remix or cover some vintage UK folk-rock and send the results to this here blog.

You can email MP3s of your contributions to interimlovers(at)yahoo.co.uk or drop a link in the comment box of this post. Hopefully, we’ll be able to rustle up enough music before the new year to complete NOT ME PRESENTS: THE ACID FOLK REMIX PROJECT VOLUME TWO.

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In related news, the still-untitled Not Me full-length is very much a work in progress after several years of struggle and sabbaticals. Currently, the album exists as a series of dubby, minimal instrumentals, broadly in the style of Basic Channel/Rhythm & Sound. All it needs now is for some kindly singer-songwriter types to add lyrics and vocals. If you think you can help, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via interimlovers(at)yahoo.co.uk or the comments box.

Bubblegum Cage III will be taking a couple of weeks off in order to prepare for the Post-Rocktoberfest festivities. If you only just recently discovered this here blog, right now would be a good time to catch up on some of the previous posts. For those of you who aren’t a bunch of fucking slow-pokes, you might want to find out What We Did on Our Holidays (further evidence below) or – alternatively – read a book.